April 21, 2025

A group of community members has submitted a request, according to the process outlined by the Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD), to name the athletic field at Flagstaff High School in honor of Dr. Rick Smith.

In accordance with the Flagstaff Unified School District’s policies and procedures for Naming Facilities (3-204 and 3-204.A), input is requested from members of our schools and community before a Naming Review Committee makes a recommendation to the Superintendent.

During Rick Smith’s tenure as Flagstaff High School head football coach, the teams won four (4) state 2A championships in a row (1981-1984). Rick is a graduate of Northern Arizona University. His career includes serving in local law enforcement, teaching at FUSD, coaching at the high school and collegiate levels, being the first executive director of NAU’s High Altitude Training Center, and serving as CEO of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) and the Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation. Dr. Rick Smith was honored as the Arizona Coach of the Year by multiple publications and is a member of the inaugural class of the Flagstaff Sports Hall of Fame, which honors our community’s greatest athletes and those who support them.

Your input and feedback are welcome and appreciated by the Naming Committee.  The feedback form will be available until Friday, June 20, 2025.